Alexander Grant (1856 - 1942) was a native of Battangorm, Carrbridge, which gave rise to his familiar name - 'Battan'. As a boy he was exposed to what were to become his two great passions - fiddling and fishing. He went on to excel in both areas; as an angler by inventing his own unique fishing rod known as the 'Grant Vibration Rod', and as a fiddler by leading the Highland Strathspey and Reel Society for almost forty years and by becoming an expert in fiddle making techniques. He also invented a unique disc-shaped violin known as a 'Rondello'. An example of Grant's fishing rod, fiddle and Rondello can be seen at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery (IMAG).

Grant was a great friend of fellow musician and composer James Scott Skinner (1843-1927), a major figure in the development of Scottish traditional music, often referred to as 'The Strathspey King'. This letter from Skinner to Grant is undated but written on headed notepaper from the Douglas Hotel, Aberdeen. Skinner covers various topics including his current domestic arrangements; his former wives - Jean Stuart and May Park Skinner; his housekeeper, Lily (Richards); his forthcoming 'Aberdeen Collection; and his arrangement for 'The Garden of Roses', an heroic pastoral

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Letter to Grant from Skinner (no date), page 7

Inverness Museum and Art Gallery

Alexander Grant - letters from J Scott Skinner

Alexander Grant (1856 - 1942) was a native of Battangorm, Carrbridge, which gave rise to his familiar name - 'Battan'. As a boy he was exposed to what were to become his two great passions - fiddling and fishing. He went on to excel in both areas; as an angler by inventing his own unique fishing rod known as the 'Grant Vibration Rod', and as a fiddler by leading the Highland Strathspey and Reel Society for almost forty years and by becoming an expert in fiddle making techniques. He also invented a unique disc-shaped violin known as a 'Rondello'. An example of Grant's fishing rod, fiddle and Rondello can be seen at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery (IMAG).<br />
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Grant was a great friend of fellow musician and composer James Scott Skinner (1843-1927), a major figure in the development of Scottish traditional music, often referred to as 'The Strathspey King'. This letter from Skinner to Grant is undated but written on headed notepaper from the Douglas Hotel, Aberdeen. Skinner covers various topics including his current domestic arrangements; his former wives - Jean Stuart and May Park Skinner; his housekeeper, Lily (Richards); his forthcoming 'Aberdeen Collection; and his arrangement for 'The Garden of Roses', an heroic pastoral